Italian Centerpiece Ideas

Tomorrow we leave for Boston! Wheeeaaa!

All Things Wedding

This picture has nothing to do with my trip, but it makes me happy!

My mom has asked me to help her do an Italian dinner tablescape for a teacher appreciation dinner she is helping to throw. Their budget is not a large one, so MOM here are some pictures I stumbled across that could be helpful!

I have alot of wine bottles I've saved over the years to use as decorations for that party I've never had, so I offered those to my mom. These arrangements look nice with the multi height items. Multiple bottles holding flowers and taper candles could be nice.

 I like how Martha used the food as the centerpiece. The breadsticks are cute in their vases, and the guests would enjoy a little appetizer to hold them over. Maybe a combination of the checker tablecloth, wine bottle holding flowers, with some breadstick in vases, and votive candles.

Cinco De Mayo- Free Printables

TomKat Studios is a great resource for free cute printables. She has come up with a Cinco de Mayo package. Click here to get the downloads.

She also shows us via Martha Stewart some fun decorations made of tissue paper.

How fun and inexpensive!

Cocktail Cupcakes for Cinco de Mayo

Just because I can't divulge into a yummy margarita in my current condition, doesn't mean I can't share this great idea with you! Make these for Cinco de Mayo next week and make friends in no time! I love the lime garnish and the cute little straws!

Margarita Cupcakes

Ingredients:
9 oz Margarita mix
3 oz tequila
3/4 oz Grand Marnier
White cake mix
3 egg whites
2 Tbsp vegetable oil
1 Tbsp lime zest
1 recipe Lime Buttercream Icing

Directions:
Mix together the margarita mix, tequila, and Grand Marnier in a large glass or spouted bowl. You will use 1 1/4 cup of this in the cupcake mix. Pour the remainder over ice and enjoy the mini-rita while you’re baking.
In a stand mixer, add the cake mix, egg whites, vegetable oil, lime zest, and 1 1/4 cup of the margarita mixture. Mix on low for about 30 seconds and then increase to medium speed for two minutes (the batter will still be a bit lumpy).
Spoon the batter into prepared muffin pan and bake at 350 for about 25 minutes or until a toothpick registers done in the center cupcake. Remove the pan from the oven and cook 5 minutes.
Lime Buttercream Icing
Ingredients:
3 cups + 3 Tbsp confectioner’s sugar
1 cup unsalted butter at room temperature
1/8 tsp salt
1 Tbsp lime juice
1/4 cup granulated sugar (optional)
green food color (optional)


Directions:
Add the butter, confectioner’s sugar, salt, and lime juice to the stand mixer and mix on low using the paddle attachment until combined. Turn the speed to med-high until the icing is fluffy. Add the icing to a pastry bag fitted with a 2D tip and ice the cupcakes.

recipe by obsessedwithcupcakes






 

Faux Milk Glass

I love a good do it yourself project, especially when you make something beautiful out of the ordinary. My house has a lot of dark wooden furniture and shelves, so I'm constantly looking for white objects to fill my home with to stand out from the darkness. With a thrift store glass jar and some spray paint look what happens! It's glorious!

Reason 10034 I love garage sales!

Tutorial from: Organized Design

Hear Ye, Hear Ye, A Royal Wedding.

The royal wedding is on the tip of every one's tongue this week. So to commemorate it, I combined some of my favorite posts and printables I've seen. If you're not into the royal wedding, and don't plan to have a watch party, these ideas will also be great for Mother's Day (make your mom feel like a Queen), a baby shower or even a birthday party!



I adore these centerpieces! It is just a cup and saucer placed on top of candlesticks. Genius! Such a great idea for a tea party!!

Tea Bag Inserts! How clever! For all the free printables in this collection click here.

Above Images: Hostess with the Mostess

Images: TomKat Studios Click here to get these free printables!

Today's fabulous Easter inspired party was created by Whimsical Mod Parties! I can't wait to have young kiddos so I can throw parties like these! To see the whole party go here.

I showed you how to make these nest earlier in the week. Go here to get the deets.

Peeps are really out in full force this season, I can't escape them! At least they are cute... and cheap so when no one eats them you won't be upset!

Happy Easter Y'all! Have a great holiday with friends and family!

Delicous Dish- Easter Edition

I obviously have a problem. I associate holidays with wonderful foods. Easter is no exception. I have a vivid childhood memory of making these bird's nests when I was little in East Texas. I made them over at the neighbor boy's house, and I remember not wanting to eat my little nest because I was so proud of it. I did cave within minutes, and it was very delicious!

Bird's Nests

{adapted from King Arthur Flour Cookie Companion}
3 c. mini marshmallows
3 TBSP unsalted butter
1/2 tsp vanilla
4 c. dry chow mein noodles
small candies, jelly beans, m & m's, etc.
Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper. Set aside.
Over low heat, melt the marshmallows and butter in a large saucepan.
Once melted, stir in the vanilla, then the chow mein noodles.
Coat your hands liberally with shortening, (butter doesn't work as well) and have some nearby for re-coating.

Grab a clump of noodles smaller than a tennis ball and larger than a golf ball. Form into a ball while pressed your thumbs into the middle, forming a nest.

Allow the nests to cool, then fill with with the candy of your choice....

 

Head over to Bake at 350 for more pictures and ideas!!

Citrus on the Brain

I'm loving lemony things lately. With this warm weather we've been having, my family and I enjoyed homemade leomonade and lemon bars with our Sunday meal this week. It was so nice sitting on the porch enjoying nature with such summery things to indulge in!

So when I saw this idea over at SoCalVal, I knew I had to share.

Watermelon Sherbet Cups

Limes

Raspberry Sherbet

Mini Chocolate Chips

Cut limes in half and scoop out the inside. Fill with sherbet and top with chips.

Freeze until ready to serve. Easy Peasy!

Val you're a genious! These would impress kids and adults alike! How fun for summer BBQ's. You should go check out all her great foodie ideas!

Finishing Touches for Easter

Easter is right around the corner! Here are some last minute ideas to add the special finishing touches to your holiday!

Food Network has step by step tutorials on how to make this cute "Carrot Cake"!

I love how fresh this table looks. Just add some spring ribbon to your serving pieces, and run a colorful piece of fabric or wrapping paper across your white table cloth for a little pizazz.

Create this flower pot centerpieces our of inexpensive flowers and flower pots! Or create this darling centerpiece made from jellybeans & Peeps

 (we've discussed how disgusting they taste, but how cute they are)!

 Get the how to at All You Magazine.

 

Happy creating!!

Why aren't elastic waistbands in fashion??

Today I am 14 weeks pregnant. Today I can't button my jeans anymore. Today I celebrated by having a chocolate milkshake at lunch and a Sugar Mama's cupcake for my 3 o clock snack. Then I get this email from Neimans... the cutest clothes ever, that I won't be able to fit in for a while. Wheaaaahhh!

But you guys can still wear these clothes I'm sure. Kate Spade has outdone herself this season. I'm loving this girl in the big skirt and the caridgan, where are her elastic waistband pieces thought? Come on, I'm trying to bring them in style. Look at that elephant wicker purse. I can still fit into that.

HGTV's Easter Party for Kids

 Courtney at Pizazzerie styles this orange and white polka dot themed Easter table. I'm obsessed with that dog, and I would very much love to have him!

 To read all about the party and to get these cute free printables, head over to her website!

Serious Strawberry Cake

I take my sweets very seriously these days. Most people think of strawberry cake as girly and fun, I think of it as a very serious thing. I SERIOUSLY need a piece... now! Here is the world's most delicious recipe for Strawberry 7-Up cake (the 7-up is what makes is the world's greatest).

Strawberry 7-Up Cake

Ingredients:

CAKE

1 (18 ounce) box strawberry cake mix (Duncan Hines is best!)

3 eggs

1/4 cup cooking oil (not olive oil)

1/4 cup water

1 cup carbonated lemon-lime beverage, drink (7-Up is best)

TOPPING

1 (3 ounce) box strawberry Jell-O gelatin dessert

3/4 cup boiling water

2 -3 tablespoons sugar (or to taste)

3/4 cup cold water

3 -4 cups fresh sliced strawberries (or one 1-pound package frozen strawberries, drained very well)

Cool Whip Topping, thawed

Directions:

1.Set oven to 350 degrees.

2.  Grease a 13 x 9-inch baking pan.
3.  Mix ALL cake ingredients together in a bowl; beat well until smooth (about 3 minutes).
4.  Transfer cake batter to a prepared baking pan.
5.  Bake for 30-35 minutes, or until cake tests done.
6.  Cool, and invert (turn over) cake onto a tray large enough to hold the cake.
7.  To make the topping: Dissolve the jello powder completely in boiling water, with the sugar, then add in   the COLD water; mix well.
8.  Poke holes all over cake with a straw.
9.  Drizzle the jello over entire top of cake.
10.  Place the strawberries slices evenly over and covering all the cake.
11.  Refrigerate cake for 2 or more hours.
12.  Just before serving, top cake with Cool Whip topping.
13.  Delicious!


Read more: http://www.food.com/recipe/strawberry-7-up-cake-121323#ixzz1JW2uYizt

Easter for Kids

If you're having a kids only table for Easter, have a little fun with it. Cover the table in butcher paper so the little ones can draw. I love the purple and greens of this table.

For an Easter appetizer serve up kid friendly veggies and dip in a little flower pot. Take it one step further and personalize the pot with each child's name.

You can also line the table with these little snacks in a pail. For an Easter party line up cheerios, raisens, candies and pretzels for a do it yourself trail mix buffet.

For dessert? How about these lollipop flower cupcakes? Too cute!

Martha will give you all the details here.

images: Good Housekeeping, Disney Family Fun, Southern Living, Martha Stewart

Easter Table Inspirations

Easter is right around the corner. Your local craft store is picked over for things to decorate the table. Well lets think outside the box to get a truly creative table your guests will enjoy. Lets start with the base. You can go natural with a moss runner.

Then add in your favorite blooms. These are glass vases covered in paper. Head over to Hostess with the Mostess for the tutorial.

Then add in some lovely glittered Easter eggs.

Add some ribbon and colorful dishes.

And you have a beautiful spring table to be proud of.

This table would also be wonderful for Mother's Day!

Tomorrow I will show you some special touches to add for the kids!

images: Hostess with the Mostess, Sunset Magazine, Martha Stewart